Former U.S. Army commander: Szijjártó’s frequent meetings with Lavrov erode trust
In an interview with 24.hu, retired U.S. General Ben Hodges, former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe, expressed concern over Hungary’s foreign relations, particularly its ties to Russia and foreign minister Péter Szijjártó’s friendship with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. Hodges suggested that former President Donald Trump’s favourable stance towards Hungary and Poland stemmed from his animosity towards Germany and France, calling this a short-sighted policy.
In the interview, Hodges emphasised that Hungary, being a small country and a minor part of NATO, is nonetheless vital to the alliance’s trust-based relationships. While he respects the democratic choices of the Hungarian people in electing their leaders, he stressed that trust between nations should never be jeopardised.
“Political differences are one thing, but when I see Hungary’s foreign minister constantly photographed with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and receiving awards from him, it raises serious doubts about trust.”
Szijjártó and Lavrov photographed together:
Hodges, who resides in Germany, mentioned hearing discussions among Germans about the possibility of Hungary being expelled from the European Union due to a lack of trust.
“Whether it’s about energy deals or Russia’s access to national resources, the question is: Can Hungary truly be relied upon within the EU?”
Discussing the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Hodges dismissed the idea of negotiating peace with Russia, arguing that Russia has a history of disregarding agreements. He defined peace not merely as the absence of war but as a situation where no one is motivated to start a new conflict.
He cited Georgia as an example, noting that Russian troops still occupy 20% of the country, and its ruling party is under Moscow’s influence.
“If Crimea remains in Russian hands, Ukraine will have no chance of rebuilding its economy. Pushing Ukraine into an agreement that allows Russia to keep Crimea would be a massive mistake.”
When asked about the Hungarian government’s claim that peace would be achieved within 24 hours if Donald Trump were re-elected as U.S. president, Hodges suggested that this would likely mean Trump would make a deal with Putin without Ukraine’s input, despite the fact that such an agreement would heavily impact the country.
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